Three Tricks for Dealing with Anxiety In the Moment

You may have prepared for a stressful situation like a job interview, an important meeting, or a presentation, but you're still likely to have some anxiety while you're in the situation. That's normal! 

Here are some things you can try to ease your anxiety.

Rate Your Anxiety and Watch It Ebb and Flow
Anxiety is not an all-or-nothing condition; it exists on a continuum. When you're feeling anxious, rate your anxiety on a scale from zero to ten, with zero being completely calm and ten being a state of severe anxiety. For example, say to yourself, "Oh, I'm at a seven now. I think I'll take a few deep breaths and see what happens to my anxiety level." After taking a few minutes to focus on your breathing, reassess your level. You'll likely find that your anxiety has decreased, even if only by a point or two. Realising that your anxiety level doesn't remain constant can reassure you that you won't remain in a high-anxiety state forever. Approach this task with an attitude of curiosity. Say to yourself, "I wonder what will happen to my anxiety level if I do this…" Continue reading.

Originally posted on Lifehacker.